The 2004 indie hit “Napoleon Dynamite” starred Efren Ramirez, Jon Heder and Jon Gries and followed a socially awkward 16-year-old boy from Preston, Idaho.
Jon Heder, who played the quirky character in the 2004 hit indie comedy of the same name, reunited with actor Efren Ramirez, who played his faithful sidekick Pedro, to shoot a commercial for Burger King that debuted in November 2016. But what has the rest of the cast been up to?
Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite)
After what many called his breakout role in “Napoleon Dynamite,” Heder has starred in comedies like “The Benchwarmers” and “Blades of Glory.” And who could forget the “Napoleon Dynamite” TV series? In 2016, he finished filming a short titled “When Jeff Tried to Save the World.”
Efren Ramirez (Pedro)
The audience favorite has worked regularly since “Napoleon Dynamite” — he’s appeared on TV shows like “Scrubs” and “Eastbound & Down” as well as in movies like “Employee of the Month.” He has six projects lined up, which will be released within the next year.
Jon Gries (Uncle Rico)
Uncle Rico! Another fan favorite. He starred as Roger Linus in the ABC series “Lost,” and also had roles on “Hawaii Five-0” and “Supernatural.” He also starred in the “Taken” franchise and is currently in preproduction for “The Knife Thrower.”
Aaron Ruell (Kip)
After playing Napoleon’s older brother, Ruell focused on writing and directing (he had two films in the 20007 Sundance Film Festival). His most recent focus has been advertising; in 2008 he won “Best Advertising” for his work with Citibank from Photo District News magazine.
Haylie Duff (Summer Wheatly)
Yes, Hilary Duff’s sister appeared in “Napoleon Dynamite” as a stuck-up popular student. After starring with her sister in the 2006 teen comedy “Material Girls,” she’s appeared regularly in made-for-TV and made-for-DVD projects like “Fear Island” and “My Nanny’s Secret.”
Tina Majorino (Deb Bradshaw)
Majorino had been a child star in films like Kevin Costner’s “Waterworld” but she really broke out after her role as Deb, who has a crush on Napoleon in the film. She reprised her role as Mac in the big-screen 2015 “Veronica Mars” and played Maggie Harris on TNT’s “Legends.”
Diedrich Bader (Rex)
Bader, who played the eccentric “Rex-kwondo” coach, catapulted into key supporting roles in such shows as “The Drew Carey Show,” “Veep” and “Outsourced.” In 2016, he became the spokesdude for Time Warner Cable in “It’s the Obvious Choice” ads.
Sandy Martin (Grandma)
Oh, poor (and sassy) grandmother of Napoleon and Kip. Martin has been a regular on TV shows like starred in TV series like “Desperate Housewives,” “CSI: NY,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Transparent.” She memorably played the androgynous sister of cult leader Roman Grant in HBO’s “Big Love.”
Shondrella Avery (LaFawnduh Lucas)
LaFawnduh was Kip’s lover and wife. Since “Napoleon Dynamite,” the actress had a few TV series and TV movie roles, including the Jake Gyllenhaal movie “End of Watch” and TVOne’s “Will to Love.”